2-3-1 Yoyogi, Yoyogi, Japan | (888) 273-7116
Central Shinjuku location within a five-minute walk of Shinjuku Station
Several restaurants, cafes, and department stores within walking distance
Stylish, well-designed rooms with mini-fridges; sleepwear is provided
Ryokan-inspired rooms available with tatami mat floors
Chic restaurant serving traditional Italian fare
Cocktail bar with plenty of seating
Spa offering massages (for a fee)
Conference rooms available
Coin-operated laundry room
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Rooms can be on the small side
Breakfast buffet is expensive
No pool or fitness center
The Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku is a modern, upper-middle-range chain hotel located smack in the middle of Tokyo's Shinjuku District, within a five-minute walk of Shinjuku Station. The hotel's 624 rooms are small but stylish, with handsome gray decor and flat-screen TVs. There’s a chic Italian restaurant on-site, as well as a sleek cocktail bar. Breakfast can be expensive, but there are plenty of restaurants and cafes nearby, and the hotel has a small spa. Guests seeking larger rooms might want to compare rates with the nearby Citadines Shinjuku Tokyo, where rooms have full kitchens, although the property has no restaurant or bar.
Scene
Modern chain hotel with sharp common areas that's popular with tour groups
By chain hotel standards -- or any hotel, for that matter -- the Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku actually makes a sharp and modern impression, with common spaces that balance artsy details with sleek design, making this a popular choice for the area. There are clusters of contemporary seating throughout the the spacious marble lobby, alongside large windows and hanging globe light fixtures. The reception desk is an eye-catching installation, with an irregularly lit wall and wood block seating, and the thoughtful attention to design continues elsewhere. Villazza, the hotel's Italian restaurant, is a chic space with
wood floors and a decorative stone wall, while Bar Ku Kon has wraparound windows and a retro atmosphere created by shag rugs and avocado-colored chairs. The hotel attracts large tour groups, so the lobby can get busy, and the hotel is a wildly popular choice for the area, drawing couples, families, solo travelers, and businesspeople.
Location
Central Shinjuku District, near trains and subway
Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku is right in the middle of Tokyo's Shinjuku business district -- this area is what many people have in mind when they think of Tokyo; it's filled with towering skyscrapers, pedestrian and vehicular traffic, and plenty of everything. Shinjuku Station, a major transportation hub, is a five-minute walk from the hotel. Kabukicho, home to Tokyo's liveliest nightlife and red-light district, and Shinjuku Golden Gai, packed with tiny bars, are about a 15-minute walk away from the hotel. Walks to to Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden -- a favorite cherry blossom viewing spot -- can be a bit long for some guests (it's 15 to 20 minutes on foot), and taxi rides there take just five minutes. Access to the popular Harajuku and Shibuya districts is simple, and takes less than five minutes on the train. Haneda Airport is about a 30-minute drive (or 45-minute train ride), while Narita International Airport can take up to 80 minutes to reach depending on traffic, or 90 minutes by train.
Rooms
Contemporary rooms with flat-screen TVs, some with ryokan-inspired details
The 624 rooms at the Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku are small, though not unreasonably so especially given the compact interiors in many Tokyo hotels. Rooms start at almost 16 square meters (169 square feet) and the ryokan-inspired Deluxe King Room, which has tatami mat floors, is actually spacious, with 30 square meters (or 323 square feet) of space. Decor throughout is sober and stylish, with gray accent walls, striped and checkered carpets, and dark or light wood veneer furniture with clean liens. Some rooms, like one of the Twin Rooms that we visited, have handsome padded headboards and small pull-out couches. All rooms have desks, flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, mini-fridges, air-conditioning, and electric kettles.
Bathrooms have shower/tub combos and toilets with bidet functions. Shampoo, conditioner, and body soap are available in dispensers, and generous
amenity kits include toothbrushes, razors, cotton swabs, and hair brushes.
Slippers and sleepwear are also provided.
Features
Italian restaurant, stylish bar, and spa on-site
Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku has an
Italian restaurant, Villazza, that serves pizzas and pastas alongside grilled dishes. There is a breakfast buffet with Western and Japanese items, though it's not included in the room rate and can be expensive. The Bar Ku Kun serves cocktails and whiskey, plus a selection of Japanese izakaya-style dishes (small plates). Guests can book massages for a fee at the Sunatio spa, and there are four meeting
rooms available for private events. Garage parking is available for a fee, and Wi-Fi is free throughout the property. There is also a coin-operated laundry room on site, along with vending machines selling snacks and booze.